National Enquirer publisher fined for breaking law with McDougal payment in 2016 Election: WSJ

[Mr. Sparkle]

Source: The Hill

The parent company of the National Enquirer has reached a settlement with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for breaking a campaign finance law over its payment of ex-model Karen McDougal, who claimed to have had an affair with former President Trump, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

A360 Media LLC formally reached the agreement with the FEC on May 17, agreeing to pay $187,500, according to the Journal. The agreement comes years after American Media Inc., the predecessor of A360 Media, told prosecutors that it had paid McDougal $150,000 at the behest of Trump's 2016 campaign. The FEC said the payment violated federal campaign laws.

David Pecker, the former CEO of American Media, admitted in 2018 to prosecutors that he took a story of McDougal’s alleged affair with Trump off the market during the 2016 election. The FEC accused American Media of shielding the story from the public in order to protect Trump’s presidential campaign. The investigation stems from a 2018 complaint by Common Cause, which also reported violations committed by Trump’s campaign as well.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/media/556417-national-enquirer-publisher-ceo-fined-for-breaking-law-with-mcdougal-payment

[cab67]

1. That's not enough.

I'm a serious proponent of free speech, but misusing that right should come with consequences.

They need to make an example of one of these "news" sources. The National Enquirer should have been fined into bankruptcy.

[Lonestarblue]

2. White collar crime pays.

Pay a small fine, get away with criminal behavior. Trump has done that his whole life. Make many millions laundering money through a casino, pay a few million in fines, and keep being a crook. The Enquirer should have been fined millions, not thousands. The only lesson learned here is that crime works because the punishment is negligible.

[hatrack]

3. Well whoop-dee-doo . . .

Why that's nearly $200,000. Gosh, hope they can withstand the financial hit.

[Cozmo]

4. Are they off the hook for Stormy Daniels?

[JT45242]

5. Can this be used against Rump at his trial for election fraud and RICO

The first thing I thought was that this could be used as evidence against trump in campaign finance and other charges. It adds another class of crimes to the RICO case if the federal prosecutors should choose to say that since the campaign was all about improving his brand and companies profits that this was part of the criminal enterprise.

[Swede]

6. The fine should be tied to the value of the offender's holdings.

Worth a hundred million? $5 million fine. Etc.

[Wounded Bear]

7. Small price to pay for 4 glorius years of Trump...

(did I really need that?)

[mdbl]

8. Time to prosecute Fox, OAN and Newsmax for spreading their lying crap

I know, just a fantasy now.

[DanieRains]

9. Jail?

Oh heck

Jail is for the rest of us.

Laws are for the rest of us.

America is a failed state, as always.

[KPN]

10. We are screwed if our government feels like it has

to reach settlements during prosecutions, especially settlements that amount to a “few bucks” penalty for the average American.

The attack on the Capitol was a domestic attack on our own government, an act of war against our own government. That should be a clear enough signal that things have gotten much worse as far as illegal anti-democratic acts on the part of those in the minority who pursue a fascist or oligarchic State, those who seek to undermine the Constitution and destroy our democratic government.

We need severe punishment not slaps on the wrist for monied interests and leaders behind the GOP/GQP’s criminality if we hope to save our democracy.

[BobTheSubgenius]

11. I never did read that rag.

Now, my mind is nowhere near "enquiring," and I know I never will. Not that it was remotely likely before.

[maxsolomon]

12. Way to put the fear of God in them, FEC.

5 years later, and they pay a fine. No wonder Former Guy acted with impunity.

[TeamProg]

13. What ?!!!

This is ELECTION related - should be prison time involved.